• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
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• v.27 no.3
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• pp.265-275
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• 2019

Technological advances of mankind, through the development of electrical and communication technologies, have resulted in the exposure to artificial electromagnetic fields (EMF). Technological growth is expected to continue; as such, the amount of EMF exposure will continue to increase steadily. In particular, the use-time of smart phones, that have become a necessity for modern people, is steadily increasing. Social concerns and interest in the impact on the cranial nervous system are increased when considering the area where the mobile phone is used. However, before discussing possible effects of radiofrequency-electromagnetic field (RF-EMF) on the human body, several factors must be investigated about the influence of EMFs at the level of research using in vitro or animal models. Scientific studies on the mechanism of biological effects are also required. It has been found that RF-EMF can induce changes in central nervous system nerve cells, including neuronal cell apoptosis, changes in the function of the nerve myelin and ion channels; furthermore, RF-EMF act as a stress source in living creatures. The possible biological effects of RF-EMF exposure have not yet been proven, and there are insufficient data on biological hazards to provide a clear answer to possible health risks. Therefore, it is necessary to study the biological response to RF-EMF in consideration of the comprehensive exposure with regard to the use of various devices by individuals. In this review, we summarize the possible biological effects of RF-EMF exposure.

• Journal of electromagnetic engineering and science
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• v.15 no.3
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• pp.173-180
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• 2015

To explore the effects of radiofrequency electromagnetic field on the fate of neuronal cells, we investigated whether exposure to 915 MHz radiofrequency identification (RFID) caused morphological changes in neuronal cells in rat hippocampal dentate gyrus (DG). A reverberation chamber was used as a whole-body RFID exposure system. Rats were assigned to two groups: sham- and RFID-exposed groups. Rats in the RFID-exposed group were exposed to RFID at 4 W/kg specific absorption rate (SAR) for 8 hours daily, 5 days per week, for 2 weeks. Morphological evaluation of DG was performed using immunohistochemistry with doublecortin (DCX) as a neuronal precursor cell marker and neuronal nuclei (NeuN) as a mature neuronal cell marker. No significant morphological changes in DCX+ or NeuN+ cells in the DG of RFID-exposed rats were observed. These results suggest that RFID exposure induces no significant change in DCX+ neuronal precursor or NeuN+ neuronal cells in DG of rats.

• Journal of electromagnetic engineering and science
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• v.15 no.3
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• pp.151-157
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• 2015

The increasing use of mobile phones has raised public concern about the possible biological effects of radiofrequency electromagnetic field (RF-EMF) exposure on the human brain. To investigate the potential effect of RF-EMF exposure on the brain, we examined the behaviors and hippocampal morphology of C57BL/6 mice after sub-chronic exposure to RF-EMFs with a relatively high SAR level (5.0 W/kg). We applied a 2-hour daily exposure of WCDMA 1,950 MHz using a reverberation chamber that was designed for whole-body exposure for 60 days. In the behavioral tests, RF-EMF did not alter the physical activity or long-term memory of mice. Moreover, no alteration was found in the neuronal and glial cells in the hippocampus by RF-EMFs. In this study, we showed that sub-chronic whole body RF exposure did not produce memory impairment and hippocampal morphological alteration in C57BL/6 mice.

• Korean Journal of Environmental Biology
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• v.22 no.4
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• pp.507-512
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• 2004

This study was focused on the risk assessment of whether radiofrequency electromagnetic fields generated by mobile phone is cytogenetically toxic or not. We conducted the effects of 835-MHz electromagnetic field (EMF) on DNA strand breaks in mouse thymic lymphoma L5178Y $Tk^{+/1-}$ cells using alkaline comet assay. EMF frequency 835-MHz we chosen is one of the most popular communication frequency bands in Korean code-division multiple-access (CDMA) mobile phone system. The cells were exposed to 835-MHz EMF alone or 835-MHz EMF combined with cyclophosamide(CPA) or 4-nitroquinoline-1-oxide (4NQO) at specific absorption rate (SAR) of 4.0 W $kg^{-l}$ for 24 and 48hrs. DNA damage expressed as tail moment was increased more than two-fold after exposure to 835-MHz EMF for 24 and 48hr. In particular, CPA for 48hr and 4NQO for 24 hr enhanced notably the tail moment to 9-fold and 16-fold in the presence of 835-MHz EMF, respectively, compared to each single treatment. From these results, it appears that exposure to CDMA-mobile phone radiation at 835-MHz frequency may potentiate DNA strand breaks of mouse thymic lymphoma L5178Y $Tk^{+/1-}$;cells under the defined conditions of this study.

• Journal of Environmental Health Sciences
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• v.32 no.4 s.91
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• pp.268-274
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• 2006

In this study in order to evaluate the growth of RF propagation exposure rate generated according to the enhancement of its use, it is proposed for the ground to be able to examine and to contemplate the correlation between the human health and RF propagation exposure rate by measuring and analyzing the RF exposure source and exposure rate in an indoor environment. As a result of research, it is analyzed that the main exposure source of critically making effect in indoor environment is the frequency hand if radio broadcasting, mobile communication, wireless LAN, digital broadcasting, home appliance, etc., including the TV broadcasting. Among these, it is shown that the TV broadcasting and mobile communication band are the highest. And it is the concluded that RF exposure rate of the environmental sensitive equipment, like an institution for the aged, has lower possibility to exceed the human RF protection criteria by this evaluation.

• The Korean Journal of Pain
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• v.29 no.1
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• pp.3-11
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• 2016

A nerve block is an effective tool for diagnostic and therapeutic methods. If a diagnostic nerve block is successful for pain relief and the subsequent therapeutic nerve block is effective for only a limited duration, the next step that should be considered is a nerve ablation or modulation. The nerve ablation causes iatrogenic neural degeneration aiming only for sensory or sympathetic denervation without motor deficits. Nerve ablation produces the interruption of axonal continuity, degeneration of nerve fibers distal to the lesion (Wallerian degeneration), and the eventual death of axotomized neurons. The nerve ablation methods currently available for resection/removal of innervation are performed by either chemical or thermal ablation. Meanwhile, the nerve modulation method for interruption of innervation is performed using an electromagnetic field of pulsed radiofrequency. According to Sunderland's classification, it is first and foremost suggested that current neural ablations produce third degree peripheral nerve injury (PNI) to the myelin, axon, and endoneurium without any disruption of the fascicular arrangement, perineurium, and epineurium. The merit of Sunderland's third degree PNI is to produce a reversible injury. However, its shortcoming is the recurrence of pain and the necessity of repeated ablative procedures. The molecular mechanisms related to axonal regeneration after injury include cross-talk between axons and glial cells, neurotrophic factors, extracellular matrix molecules, and their receptors. It is essential to establish a safe, long-standing denervation method without any complications in future practices based on the mechanisms of nerve degeneration as well as following regeneration.

• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
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• v.63 no.11
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• pp.422-428
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• 2020

In today's world, most children are exposed to various manmade electromagnetic fields (EMFs). EMFs are electromagnetic waves less than 300 GHz. A developing child's brain is vulnerable to electromagnetic radiation; thus, their caregivers' concerns about the health effects of EMFs are increasing. EMF exposure is divided into 2 categories: extremely low frequencies (ELFs; 3-3,000 Hz), involving high-voltage transmission lines and in-house wiring; and radiofrequencies (RFs; 30 kHz to 300 GHz), involving mobile phones, smart devices, base stations, WiFi, and 5G technologies. The biological effects of EMFs on humans include stimulation, thermal, and nonthermal, the latter of which is the least known. Among the various health issues related to EMFs, the most important issue is human carcinogenicity. According to the International Agency for Research on Cancer's (IARC's) evaluation of carcinogenic risks to humans, ELFs and RFs were evaluated as possible human carcinogens (Group 2B). However, the World Health Organization's (WHO's) view of EMFs remains undetermined. This article reviews the current knowledge of EMF exposure on humans, specifically children. EMF exposure sources, biological effects, current WHO and IARC opinions on carcinogenicity, and effects of EMF exposures on children will be discussed. As well-controlled EMF experiments in children are nearly impossible, scientific knowledge should be interpreted objectively. Precautionary approaches are recommended for children until the potential health effects of EMF are confirmed.

• Proceedings of the IEEK Conference
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• 2003.07a
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• pp.262-265
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• 2003

Radiofrequency thermal ablation (RTA) as one of the microwave hyperthermia is becoming the treatment of choice for small but inoperable tumors of the liver. In this paper, we designed the applicator composed of semi-rigid coaxial cable antenna with a ring slot for RTA. To optimize the maximum output of radiation at 2450 MHz, we simulated the antenna using Electromagnetic simulation tools Maxwell program and analyzed the return loss and the electric field $E_{tot}$ at the near-field region between the simulation results and measurement results. As a result, we obtained the return loss of -29.786 dB at 2450 MHz when the antenna was placed between two blocks of a pig's liver, and the measurement results agreed with the simulation results well. Therefore, this semi-rigid coaxial cable antenna with a ring slot can be used very usefully as the applicator for RTA.r RTA.A.

• Proceedings of the IEEK Conference
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• 2003.11c
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• pp.24-27
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• 2003

Radiofrequency ablation (RFA) as one of the microwave hyperthermia is becoming the treatment of choice for small but inoperable tumors of the liver. In this paper, we designed the applicator composed of semi-rigid coaxial cable antenna with a ring slot for RFA. To optimize the maximum output of radiation with omni direction at 2450 ㎒, we simulated the applicator using Electromagnetic simulation program and analyzed the return loss and the electric field E$\_$tot/ at the near-field region between the simulation results and measurement results. As a result, we obtained the return loss of -29.786 dB at 2450 ㎒ when the applicator was placed between two blocks of a pig's liver, and the measurement results agreed with the simulation results well. Therefore, this applicator using semi-rigid coaxial cable antenna with a ring slot can be used very usefully as the applicator for RFA.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
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• v.22 no.3
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• pp.277-289
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• 2018

The exponential increase in the use of mobile communication has triggered public concerns about the potential adverse effects of radiofrequency electromagnetic fields (RF-EMF) emitted by mobile phones on the central nervous system (CNS). In this study, we explored the relationship between calcium channels and apoptosis or autophagy in the hippocampus of C57BL/6 mice after RF-EMF exposure with a specific absorption rate (SAR) of 4.0 W/kg for 4 weeks. Firstly, the expression level of voltage-gated calcium channels (VGCCs), a key regulator of the entry of calcium ions into the cell, was confirmed by immunoblots. We investigated and confirmed that pan-calcium channel expression in hippocampal neurons were significantly decreased after exposure to RF-EMF. With the observed accumulation of autolysosomes in hippocampal neurons via TEM, the expressions of autophagy-related genes and proteins (e.g., LC3B-II) had significantly increased. However, down-regulation of the apoptotic pathway may contribute to the decrease in calcium channel expression, and thus lower levels of calcium in hippocampal neurons. These results suggested that exposure of RF-EMF could alter intracellular calcium homeostasis by decreasing calcium channel expression in the hippocampus; presumably by activating the autophagy pathway, while inhibiting apoptotic regulation as an adaptation process for 835 MHz RF-EMF exposure.